Oven appliance having combined radiant and convection broil

ABSTRACT

An oven appliance includes a cabinet defining a cooking chamber to receive items to be cooked. The cooking chamber includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and opposing sidewalls. The top wall and the bottom wall are spaced apart along a vertical direction. The opposing sidewalls are spaced apart along a lateral direction. The oven appliance also includes a broiler assembly. The broiler assembly includes a convection heating element and a radiant heating element. The convection heating element is disposed outside of the cooking chamber and in convective communication with the cooking chamber to supply heated gas to the cooking chamber. The radiant heating element is disposed in the cooking chamber proximate the top wall of the cooking chamber.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to oven appliances, andmore particularly to oven appliances having combined convection andradiant heating features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional residential and commercial oven appliances generallyinclude a cabinet that defines a cooking chamber for receipt of fooditems for cooking. Heating elements are positioned within the cookingchamber to provide heat to food items located therein. The heatingelements can include, for example a bake heating assembly positioned ata bottom of the cooking chamber and/or a broiler heating assemblypositioned at a top of the cooking chamber. Typical broiler heatingassemblies include one or the other of a radiant heating element or aconvection heating element, but not both.

Some conventional appliances include a broiler assembly that uses aburner or electric heating element directed toward a predefined heatingsurface. During use, the burner or electric heating element heats thepredefined heating surface to an elevated temperature so that heat maybe radiated above, for instance, a food item being cooked. In otherwords, radiation is used as the sole heat transfer method in theseconventional broiler elements. Oftentimes, these conventional appliancesare unable to provide an even or desirable heat distribution above thefood item being cooked. For example, the broiler element may be unableto evenly heat the predefined heating surface. In turn, radiation fromthe predefined heating surface may heat or cook items in an undesirableor uneven manner.

Other conventional appliances only provide a gas burner for broiling.Such appliances are unable to quickly transition from baking tobroiling, and vice versa. For example, only one gas burner can beignited at a given time because simultaneous burner operation may resultin poor combustion. In such systems, transitioning between bake andbroil can require significant time since one burner (e.g., the bakeburner) needs to be turned off and then the other (e.g., the broilburner) ignited.

Moreover, in conventional appliances, the broiler element may require asignificant amount of pre-heating time before a suitable broilertemperature is reached. This additional pre-heating time may frustrate auser and/or hinder cooking operations.

Accordingly, oven appliances having an improved broiler assembly wouldbe desirable. Specifically, oven appliances having a broiler assemblythat could provide an even heat distribution across a portion of acooking chamber would be desirable. Additionally, it may be desirablefor broiler assemblies to quickly reach an instructed temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thefollowing description, or may be obvious from the description, or may belearned through practice of the invention.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, an oven appliance is provided.The oven appliance includes a cabinet defining a cooking chamber toreceive items to be cooked. The cooking chamber includes a top wall, abottom wall, a rear wall, and opposing sidewalls. The top wall and thebottom wall are spaced apart along a vertical direction. The opposingsidewalls are spaced apart along a lateral direction. The oven appliancealso includes a broiler assembly. The broiler assembly includes aconvection heating element and a radiant heating element. The convectionheating element is disposed outside of the cooking chamber and inconvective communication with the cooking chamber to supply heated gasto the cooking chamber. The radiant heating element is disposed in thecooking chamber proximate the top wall of the cooking chamber.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, an oven appliance isprovided. The oven appliance includes a cabinet defining a cookingchamber to receive items to be cooked. The cooking chamber includes atop wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and opposing sidewalls. The topwall and the bottom wall are spaced apart along a vertical direction.The opposing sidewalls are spaced apart along a lateral direction. Aconvection duct extends along a portion of the cooking chamber to directa heated gas therethrough. An air handler is disposed in fluidcommunication with the convection duct to motivate the heated gas. Abroil outlet is defined at a top portion of the cooking chamber in fluidcommunication with the convection duct to direct the heated gas from theconvection duct to the cooking chamber. A radiant heating element ispositioned proximate to and downstream of the broil outlet.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which areincorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrateembodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is setforth in the specification, which makes reference to the appendedfigures.

FIG. 1 provides a front perspective view of an oven appliance accordingto one or more example embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 provides a sectional view of the example oven appliance of FIG. 1taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 provides a magnified sectional view of a heating element of theexample oven appliance of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 provides a schematic sectional view of an oven applianceaccording to one or more example embodiments of present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, notlimitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be madein the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncovers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

As used herein, terms of approximation, such as “generally,” or “about”include values within ten percent greater or less than the stated value.When used in the context of an angle or direction, such terms includewithin ten degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction.For example, “generally vertical” includes directions within ten degreesof vertical in any direction, e.g., clockwise or counter-clockwise. Theterms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative direction withrespect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, “upstream” refersto the direction from which the fluid flows, and “downstream” refers tothe direction to which the fluid flows.

Turning now to the figures, FIGS. 1 through 3 provide several views ofan example oven appliance which may incorporate embodiments of thepresent subject matter. For instance, FIG. 1 provides a perspective viewof an oven appliance 10 according to example embodiments of the presentsubject matter. FIG. 2 provides a section view of oven appliance 10taken along the 2-2 line of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 provides a magnifiedsectional view of a heating element of the example oven appliance ofFIG. 2. Oven appliance 10 defines a vertical direction V, a lateraldirection L, and a transverse direction T. The vertical direction V,lateral direction L, and transverse direction T are mutuallyperpendicular and form an orthogonal direction system. As will beunderstood, oven appliance 10 is provided by way of example only, andthe present subject matter may be used in any suitable oven appliance.For example, the oven appliance may be a wall oven or a freestandingrange that also includes a cooktop, as illustrated. As another example,the oven appliance may include multiple interior cavities that definemultiple heating chambers in the oven appliance. Thus, the presentsubject matter may be used with other oven or range applianceconfigurations, e.g., that define multiple interior cavities for thereceipt of food and/or having different configuration than what is shownin FIG. 2.

Oven appliance 10 includes an insulated cabinet 12 with an interiorcooking chamber 14 defined by an interior surface 15 of cabinet 12.Cooking chamber 14 is configured for the receipt of one or more fooditems to be cooked. Oven appliance 10 includes a door 16 rotatablymounted to cabinet 12, e.g., with a hinge (not shown). A handle 18 ismounted to door 16 and assists a user with opening and closing door 16in order to access opening 20 to cooking chamber 14. For example, a usercan pull on handle 18 to open or close door 16 and access cookingchamber 14 through opening 20.

Oven appliance 10 can includes a seal or gasket (not shown) between door16 and cabinet 12 that assists with maintaining heat and cooking fumeswithin cooking chamber 14 when door 16 is closed as shown in FIG. 2.Multiple parallel glass panes 22 provide for viewing the contents ofcooking chamber 14 when door 16 is closed and assist with insulatingcooking chamber 14. A baking rack 24 is positioned in cooking chamber 14for the receipt of food items or utensils containing food items. Bakingrack 24 is slidably received onto embossed ribs 26 or sliding rails suchthat rack 24 may be conveniently moved into and out of cooking chamber14 when door 16 is open.

As shown, various walls define the cooking chamber 14. For example,cooking chamber 14 includes a top wall 30 and a bottom wall 32 which arespaced apart along the vertical direction V. Left sidewall 34 and rightsidewall 36 (as defined according to a front view as shown in FIG. 1,e.g., from the perspective of a user facing the oven appliance 10 toaccess/use the oven appliance 10 and/or cooking chamber 14) extendbetween the top wall 30 and bottom wall 32, and are spaced apart alongthe lateral direction L. A rear wall 38 additionally extends between thetop wall 30 and bottom wall 32 as well as between the left sidewall 34and right sidewall 36, and is spaced apart from the door 16 along thetransverse direction T. Cooking chamber 14 is thus defined between thetop wall 30, bottom wall 32, left sidewall 34, right sidewall 36, andrear wall 38.

Optionally, a lower heating assembly 42 may be included in ovenappliance 10, e.g., for baking operations within cooking chamber 42.Lower heating assembly 42 may include a discrete heating element (notpictured) which is disposed within the cooking chamber 14, such asadjacent to the bottom wall 32. In some embodiments, the lower heatingassembly 42 includes a gas burner. Additional components, such as anigniter and a fuel line may be provided in some such embodiments.Alternatively, the lower heating assembly 42 may include an electricheating element, or may be any other suitable bake assembly having anyother suitable heating element.

As discussed in detail herein, an upper heating assembly, such as abroiler assembly 44, may be included in oven appliance 10. Broilerassembly 44 includes a convection heating element 50 and a radiantheating element 52. The radiant heating element 52 may be an electricheating element, such as a resistive heating rod as illustrated in FIG.2. The convection components of broiler assembly 44 include one or moreair handlers 46, 48, e.g., fans or blowers, and a convection heatingelement 50. As illustrated, convection heating element 50 is generallypositioned away from cooking chamber 14 such that convection heat (andnot radiation heat) is received in cooking chamber 14 from convectionheating element 50. Convection heating element 50 may be an electricheating element, such as a resistive heating rod, or a gas burnerconfigured to generate a heated gas for cooking operations. Airhandler(s) 46, 48 may be in fluid communication with convection heatingelement 50 to motivate heated gas from the convection heating element 50and through a broil outlet 132 into the cooking chamber 14. As will bedescribed in detail below, broil outlet 132 may be provided at orproximate to a top portion of the cooking chamber 14, e.g., at the topwall 30, such as at or proximate to an intersection of the top wall 30with the rear wall 38. Moreover, during certain operations, broil outlet132 may be downstream from air handler(s) 46, 48 and convection heatingelement 50 to receive a heated gas therefrom.

Advantageously, the heating elements 50 and 52 may employ different heatsources, e.g., the convection heating element 50 may be a gas burner andthe radiant heating element 52 may be an electric heating element, suchthat the combined system, e.g., broiler assembly 44, provides advantagesover broilers using a single energy source, such as only electric oronly combustion. In such embodiments, the radiant heating element 52 maybe a low-power heating element. For example, while a typical heatingelement in an all-electric oven appliance may use about 3,000 Watts toabout 4,000 Watts, the radiant heating element 52 may use only about1400 Watts or about 1500 Watts. Thus, the combined broiler assembly 44may provide improved heat intensity as compared to a purely radiant orpurely convective broil system. By bathing the electric element 52 inthe hot air or exhaust from the convective heating element 50, therelatively low powered (e.g., about 1500 W) electric element 52 canachieve temperatures that will allow it to radiate substantial energy tofood items in the cooking chamber, and together with the convective heatelement 52 gives superior broil results.

Oven appliance 10 may further include a controller 40, e.g., configuredto control one or more operations of the oven appliance 10. For example,controller 40 may control at least one operation of oven appliance 10that includes broiler assembly 44. Controller 40 may be in communication(via for example a suitable wired or wireless connection) with theheating elements 50 and 52 as well as other suitable components of theoven appliance 10, as discussed herein. In general, controller 40 may beoperable to configure the oven appliance 10 (and various componentsthereof) for cooking. Such configuration may be based, for instance, ona plurality of cooking factors of a selected operating cycle or mode.

By way of example, controller 40 may include one or more memory devicesand one or more microprocessors, such as general or special purposemicroprocessors operable to execute programming instructions ormicro-control code associated with an operating cycle. The memory mayrepresent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such asROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executes programminginstructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separate componentfrom the processor or may be included onboard within the processor.

Controller 40 may be positioned in a variety of locations throughoutoven appliance 10. As illustrated, controller 40 may be located within auser interface panel 62 of oven appliance 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 through3. In some such embodiments, input/output (“I/O”) signals may be routedbetween controller 40 and various operational components of ovenappliance 10, such as convection heating element 50, radiant heatingelement 52, air handler(s) 46, 48, controls 64, display component 66,sensors, alarms, and/or other components as may be provided. Forinstance, signals may be directed along one or more wiring harnessesthat may be routed through cabinet 12. In some embodiments, controller40 is in communication with user interface panel 62 and controls 64through which a user may select various operational features and modesand monitor progress of oven appliance 10. In one embodiment, userinterface panel 62 may represent a general purpose I/O (“GPIO”) deviceor functional block. In one embodiment, user interface panel 62 mayinclude input components, such as one or more of a variety ofelectrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical input devices includingrotary dials, push buttons, and touch pads. User interface panel 62 mayinclude a display component 66, such as a digital or analog displayconfigured to provide operational feedback to a user.

As noted above, certain embodiments of convection heating element 50 areprovided as a gas burner. In some such embodiments, convection heatingelement 50 includes a burner tube 68. Burner tube 68 is generallypositioned away from broil outlet 132 such that a flame output by burnertube 68 is isolated and apart from broil outlet 132, e.g., therebypreventing the flame from contacting broil outlet 132 or otherwiseentering the cooking chamber 14. A fuel line (not shown) may beconnected in fluid communication with burner tube 68 to selectivelydirect a fuel (e.g., natural gas) to burner tube 68. One or moreigniters (not pictured) may be provided adjacent to burner tube 68 forigniting fuel. During operation, a flame can thus be generated at burnertube 68 after fuel is received at burner tube 68.

In some embodiments, a burner enclosure 72 contains at least a portionof convection heating element 50. For instance, burner enclosure 72 mayinclude a plurality of outer walls 74, 76 housing burner tube 68. Outerwalls 74, 76 may be substantially solid, non-permeable members topartially isolate burner tube 68. During use, a flame generated at theburner tube 68 is at least partially contained by burner enclosure 72,e.g., apart from broil outlet 132. Specifically, the flame is at leastpartially enclosed by outer walls 74, 76. An inlet 78 is defined throughone or more of outer walls (e.g., 76), while one or both of the outerwalls 74, 76 define a separate outlet 80. For instance, outer walls 74,76 may collectively define an outlet 80 directly above burner tube 68.Inlet 78 may generally permit air into burner enclosure 72 while outlet80 directs a flame exhaust out of burner enclosure 72, e.g., as a heatedgas.

As best seen in FIG. 3, Burner enclosure 72 may include a plurality ofinner walls 82, 84, such as a first inner wall 82 and anoppositely-disposed second inner wall 84. Inner walls 82, 84 may bespaced apart, e.g., in the transverse direction T. Moreover, inner walls82, 84 may be bounded by outer walls 74, 76 within burner enclosure 72.Optionally, inner walls 82, 84 may form a flame hood disposed overburner tube 68. During use, a flame generated at burner tube 68 mayextend into, and be contained within, flame hood formed by inner walls82, 84. In turn, inner walls 82, 84 may at least partially isolate theflame from the outer walls 74, 76, e.g., such that the flame does notcontact inner walls 82, 84.

An exhaust path 86 may be defined between the oppositely-disposed innerwalls 82, 84. For instance, exhaust path 86 may extend between burnertube 68 and outlet 80 of burner enclosure 72. In some such embodiments,inner walls 82, 84 are spaced apart from outer walls 74, 76, e.g., inthe transverse direction T. One or more air chambers 88, 90 may bedefined between an inner wall 82, 84 and an outer wall 74, 76 of burnerenclosure 72. One air chamber 88 may extend in the transverse directionT toward the cooking chamber 14 between first inner wall 82 and an outerwall 74 of burner enclosure 72. Another air chamber 90 may extend in thetransverse direction T away from the cooking chamber 14 between secondinner wall 84 and another outer wall 76 of burner enclosure 72.

In some embodiments, inlet 78 includes a plurality of openings 92, 94extending through an outer wall 76 of burner enclosure 72, e.g., in thetransverse direction T. Optionally, multiple discrete sets of openingsmay be provided. For instance, a primary set of openings 92 may extendthrough outer wall 76 of burner enclosure 72. As illustrated, primaryopenings 92 may extend through outer wall 76 below inner walls 82, 84,e.g., in the vertical direction V. In some such embodiments, primaryopenings 92 are defined below burner tube 68. Each of the primaryopenings 92 may be substantially parallel. Additionally oralternatively, each of the primary openings 92 may be defined along asequence such that the primary openings 92 are arranged side-by-side inthe lateral direction L.

A secondary set of openings 94 may further extend through outer wall 76of burner enclosure 72. As illustrated, secondary openings 94 may extendthrough outer wall 76 above burner tube 68, e.g., in the verticaldirection V. In some such embodiments, secondary openings 94 extend intoan air chamber 88, 90. Each of the secondary openings 94 may besubstantially parallel. Additionally or alternatively, each of thesecondary openings 94 may be defined along a sequence such that theprimary openings 92 are arranged side-by-side in the lateral directionL.

Optionally, one or more ports 96 may be defined in fluid communicationwith inlet 78. As illustrated, ports 96 may be extend from an airchamber 88, 90 to outlet 80. Moreover, ports 96 may be defined abovesecondary openings 94, e.g., proximate to outlet 80. For instance, ports96 may be defined through an angled top portion of inner wall 82, 84.During operations, air may be directed through air chamber 88, 90 (e.g.,from secondary openings 94) and out of ports 96.

An isolated air supply duct 110 is provided in some embodiments. Asshown, air supply duct 110 defines a passage 112 that extends betweentwo ends 114, 116. When assembled, passage 112 may be in fluidcommunication with burner enclosure 72. An inlet 118 of air supply duct110 may be defined at one end 114 while an outlet 120 is defined at theopposite end 116. Optionally, air supply duct 110 may be partially orfully housed within cabinet 12. In some such embodiments, inlet 118 isdefined in communication with the ambient environment, e.g., at a bottomportion of cabinet 12. Outlet 120 of air supply duct 110 may be definedadjacent to the inlet 78 of burner enclosure 72, e.g., in directengagement with burner enclosure 72. Air for combustion may thus enterair supply duct 110 at inlet 118 before passing through passage 112 tooutlet 120. Air passing from outlet 120 may then enter burner enclosure72 at inlet 78, e.g., through primary opening(s) 92 and/or secondaryopening(s) 94.

In some embodiments, one or more combustion air handlers 48, such as aburner fan, is or are disposed upstream from convection heating element50, e.g., upstream from the gas burner. Specifically, combustion airhandler 48 may be in fluid communication with inlet 78 of burnerenclosure 72. Isolated air supply duct 110 may be disposed in fluidcommunication between the air handler 48 and inlet 78 of convectionheating element 50. Optionally, combustion air handler 48 may bedisposed within passage 112 of air supply duct 110. During operations,combustion air handler 48 may motivate air into inlet 78, e.g., tofacilitate combustion within burner enclosure 72 and/or force heatexhaust from burner enclosure 72.

In certain embodiments, a convection duct 130 is provided in fluidcommunication with cooking chamber 14. Convection duct 130 may extendalong a portion of the cooking chamber 14, e.g., outside of cookingchamber 14, to direct a heated gas therethrough. For instance,convection duct 130 may extend from convection heating element 50 tobroil outlet 132. Convection duct 130 may thereby provide fluidcommunication between heating element 50 and cooking chamber 14. In somesuch embodiments, broil outlet 132 is positioned at the top wall 30 ofcooking chamber 14 proximate the outlet 80 of burner enclosure 72. Broiloutlet 132 may be defined, e.g., perpendicular to the transversedirection T.

In additional embodiments, an optional passage, e.g., a circulationpassage 134, may be defined by convection duct 130. Specifically,circulation passage 134 may be defined in fluid communication between abottom portion of cooking chamber 14 and a top portion of cookingchamber 14. In certain embodiments, circulation passage 134 extendsperpendicular to the transverse direction T, e.g., along the verticaldirection V. At least a portion of circulation passage 134 may bedefined by rear wall 38, e.g., between rear wall 38 and an outer wall 74of burner enclosure 72. In other embodiments, a bottom heating elementmay be included at or near the bottom portion of the cooking chamber 14to provide heat to the bottom portion of the cooking chamber 14 withoutthe optional circulation passage 134.

One or more convection air handlers 46, such as a circulation fan, aredisposed in fluid communication with convection duct 130. Throughconvection duct 130, convection air handler 46 may be in fluidcommunication with outlet 80 of burner enclosure 72. Convection airhandler 46 may be operable to direct a heated gas through convectionduct 130 according to one or more operations. During certain operations,air may be recirculated from one portion of cooking chamber 14 toanother portion. For instance, convection air handler 46 may motivateair through broiler passage 132 and to or from broil outlet 132, as willbe described below. In some embodiments, convection air handler 46 isdisposed within convection duct 130, e.g., mounted at the circulationpassage 134. Moreover, convection air handler 46 may be positioned belowconvection heating element 50 along the vertical direction V.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, oven appliance 10 is operable to motivate aheated gas into cooking chamber 14, e.g., in order to heat or cook fooditems positioned below broiler assembly 44. One or more modes, such as abroiler mode, may be provided. Controller 40 (FIG. 1) may initiate thebroiler mode in response to one or more user inputs, e.g., providedthrough controls 64 (FIG. 1).

An initial airflow (indicated at arrow 142) may be provided toconvection heating element 50. For instance, an initial air volume maybe motivated through inlet 78 into burner enclosure 72 by air handler48. The initial airflow 142 may be provided from the ambientenvironment, e.g., through inlet 118 of air supply duct 110 (FIG. 2).Air within burner enclosure 72 may then mix with fuel supplied throughburner tube 68.

The mixture of initial airflow 142 and fuel may be ignited to generate aflame exhaust (indicated at arrow 144). Combustion and backpressuregenerated at combustion air handler 48 may motivate exhaust 144 throughoutlet 80 into convection duct 130 as a heated gas (indicated at arrows146). Optionally, additional air, such as that provided throughsecondary openings 94 (FIG. 3), may be mixed with exhaust 144, e.g., atoutlet 80, to further form heated gas 146. Additionally oralternatively, air from cooking chamber 14 may be recirculated, e.g., byair handler 46, and mixed with exhaust 144 within convection duct 130 tofurther form heated gas 146.

The heated gas 146 may flow by convection to the top of convection duct130 and from convection duct 130 into the cooking chamber 14 via broiloutlet 132 (FIG. 2). For instance, in some embodiments, exhaust 144and/or heated gas 146 may be directed exclusively to broil outlet 132,e.g., as a convective heat source for the top portion of cooking chamber14. After exiting the convection duct 130 at the broil outlet 132,heated gas 146 may flow along the top wall 30 and may flow downward fromthe top wall 30, e.g., over and around the radiant heating element 52.Thus, the heated gas 146 may surround, e.g., flow around, the electricheating element 52 on all sides such that the electric heating element52 is bathed in heated gas 146. Advantageously, the heated gas 146 maydirectly heat any items, e.g., food items, positioned beneath broilerassembly 44 as a convective heat source. Moreover, heat may be receivedimmediately from the heated gas 146. Additionally, the radiant heatingelement 52 may provide radiant heat to the items beneath broilerassembly 44. In this manner, the broiler assembly 44 may advantageouslyprovide both radiant heat and convection heat to items during a broiloperation of the oven appliance 10. For example, warm-up time of theradiant heating element 52 may be reduced when the radiant heatingelement is bathed in heated gas 146 as described.

Such a combined broiler assembly 44, e.g., including convection heatingelement 50 and radiant heating element 52, may provide severaladvantages. For example, the broiler assembly 44 may allow for controlof where the flow of hot gases goes so that temperature distribution isimproved. As another example, the broiler assembly 44 may requirerelatively short heat-up time. Also by way of example, the broilerassembly 44 may have a clean, low-profile appearance and may be flush ornearly flush with the top wall 30 (increasing useable volume of thecooking chamber 14), e.g., due to the relatively smaller size of thelow-power radiant heating element 52. For yet another example, thebroiler assembly 44 may provide an opportunity for smaller venting,e.g., as compared to a broil system using combustion only. Further, thesmaller vent may lead to less heat loss which positively affectsefficiency.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal languages of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An oven appliance comprising: a cabinet defininga cooking chamber to receive items to be cooked, the cooking chambercomprising a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and opposingsidewalls, the top wall and the bottom wall being spaced apart along avertical direction, the opposing sidewalls being spaced apart along alateral direction; a convection duct extending along a portion of thecooking chamber to direct a heated gas therethrough; a convectionheating element disposed within the convection duct to supply the heatedgas thereto; an air handler disposed in fluid communication with theconvection duct to motivate the heated gas; a broil outlet defined at atop portion of the cooking chamber in fluid communication with theconvection duct to direct the heated gas from the convection duct to thecooking chamber; and a radiant heating element positioned proximate toand downstream of the broil outlet.
 2. The oven appliance of claim 1,wherein the radiant heating element is an electric resistive heatingelement.
 3. The oven appliance of claim 1, wherein the convectionheating element is a gas burner.
 4. The oven appliance of claim 3,wherein the gas burner comprises a burner tube to receive a combustionfuel and a burner enclosure housing the burner tube to contain a flameand direct an exhaust of the flame to the broil outlet as a portion ofthe heated gas.
 5. The oven appliance of claim 3, wherein the airhandler is disposed upstream from the gas burner, and wherein the burnerenclosure defines an inlet to receive an airflow from the air handler.6. The oven appliance of claim 5, further comprising an isolated airsupply duct disposed in fluid communication between the air handler andthe inlet of the gas burner.
 7. The oven appliance of claim 1, whereinthe air handler is disposed within the cabinet and positioned below theconvection heating element along the vertical direction.
 8. The ovenappliance of claim 1, wherein a portion of the convection duct isdefined by the rear wall.
 9. The oven appliance of claim 1, furthercomprising a controller operably connected to the radiant heatingelement and the convection heating element, the controller configured toinitiate a broiling operation, the broiling operation includingactivating both the radiant heating element and the convection heatingelement.
 10. An oven appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a cookingchamber to receive items to be cooked, the cooking chamber comprising atop wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and opposing sidewalls, the topwall and the bottom wall being spaced apart along a vertical direction,the opposing sidewalls being spaced apart along a lateral direction; anda broiler assembly comprising: a convection heating element disposedoutside of the cooking chamber and in convective communication with thecooking chamber to supply heated gas to the cooking chamber, and aradiant heating element disposed in the cooking chamber proximate thetop wall of the cooking chamber.
 11. The oven appliance of claim 10,wherein the radiant heating element is an electric resistive heatingelement.
 12. The oven appliance of claim 10, wherein the convectionheating element is in convective communication with the cooking chambervia a broil outlet in a top portion of the cooking chamber, and whereinthe radiant heating element is positioned proximate to and downstream ofthe broil outlet.
 13. The oven appliance of claim 12, wherein theconvection heating element is a gas burner.
 14. The oven appliance ofclaim 13, wherein the gas burner comprises a burner tube to receive afuel for combustion and a burner enclosure housing the burner tube tocontain products of combustion from the burner tube, wherein theproducts of combustion from the burner tube include heated gas and theburner enclosure is configured to direct at least a portion of theheated gas to the broil outlet.
 15. The oven appliance of claim 12,further comprising an air handler in fluid communication with theconvection heating element and the broil outlet to motivate the heatedgas through the broiler outlet, the air handler disposed upstream fromthe gas burner, and wherein the burner enclosure defines an inlet toreceive an airflow from the air handler.
 16. The oven appliance of claim15, further comprising an isolated air supply duct disposed in fluidcommunication between the air handler and the inlet of the gas burner.17. The oven appliance of claim 10, further comprising a convection ductextending from the convection heating element to the broil outlet. 18.The oven appliance of claim 10, further comprising a controller operablyconnected to the radiant heating element and the convection heatingelement, the controller configured to initiate a broiling operation, thebroiling operation including activating both the radiant heating elementand the convection heating element.